On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. – Revelation 22:2
Being invited to speak somewhere is always one of the great privileges of my life. It is especially remarkable because I am one of those people who has a history of being painfully shy – and even now I would rather stay in the quiet corners at parties, nurse my coffee and watch everyone else.
But God has evidently entrusted me with something helpful to say, and so I get these invitations to come say it.
First and foremost I am a writer; so my great challenge when I stand in front of a live audience is to get my head out of my notes and actually speak to them… rather than simply read my writing.
Of course it helps no end when the people I am talking to are so openhearted and receptive as the good folk at First Presbyterian in Greenville Sunday morning. Plus the warm and gracious hospitality of the Rev. Karen Jackson, who helped me to feel welcome and comfortable and at home.
Then, the coolness factor of getting up to speak right after such amazing music from such a phenomenal choir… all I can say is, “Wow!”
Neighbor to Neighbor:
It was the First Presbyterian of Greenville’s special “Neighbor to Neighbor” event and I was asked to address the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
For our key text I used Revelation 22, building my message around the idea that we are “the leaves for the healing of the nations,” and that our mission is, always, to find ways to facilitate healing in every circumstance. Then we talked a little about how that can work out in day-to-day life.
Here is what is important. Our calling – as God’s children – is the ministry of healing, of reconciliation, of building up, of encouragement, of harmony, of grace, of mercy and of light.
So who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is anyone who needs the Ministry of the Leaves.
Here is my benediction from the end of the service:
“In the name of God the Creator, who I met face to face that morning when I climbed Mount Sinai… In the name of God the Son, who is our constant companion and guide… And in the name of God the Holy Ghost, who will be standing at the door as we exit, handing out the leaves for the healing of the nations…. Won’t you take one?”
Seriously friends, won’t you? – DEREK
